Burundi confirms its first two coronavirus cases

Repatriated Burundians wash their hands on the border with the DRCongo on March 18, 2020. Burundi has confirmed its first two coronavirus cases on March 31, 2020. PHOTO | ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA | AFP

What you need to know:

  • But the health minister did not reveal when they arrived into the country.
  • He said revealing the information might jeopardise efforts to trace contacts.

Burundi has confirmed its first two coronavirus cases, Health minister Thadée Ndikumana announced late Tuesday.

Dr Ndikumana said the two patients are Burundians aged 56 and 42.

“Both are Burundian nationals who had travelled to Rwanda and Dubai respectively and are being hospitalised at Bumerec hHospital in Bujumbura,” the health minister told a news conference.

ARRIVAL

But he did not reveal when they arrived into the country, saying it might jeopardise efforts to trace contacts.

“We cannot provide the dates as investigations are ongoing,” said Dr Ndikumana.

As neighbouring countries of Rwanda, DR Congo and Tanzania reported cases of the coronavirus, Burundi suspended all flights to and from Melchior Ndadaye International Airport and started screening returnees and visitors from countries affected by Covid-19.

Belgian and French schools and the French Cultural Centre have suspended all their activities in the country for at least 15 days over coronavirus fears.

FRENCH NATIONAL

The decision came after a 29-year-old French national who had travelled to Rwanda from March 5 to 9 revealed that she was in contact with a colleague, during her stay in Kigali, who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Last week, Tanzania’s Health Minister Ummy Ally Malimu announced that one of the new recorded cases in the country was a truck driver who was found at Kagera, a region bordering Burundi.

The driver reportedly entered Tanzania through Kabanga, a common border between Burundi and Tanzania.

Most of the East African Community member states are under some form of lockdown in efforts to contain the spread of the respiratory disease in their countries.